CH 54.2

…Could it have been that?

The unfamiliar feeling Lily gave him was too heavy and burdensome. Even more so, she was the daughter of Duke Everett. It wasn’t enough that he married the daughter of an enemy family, so he shouldn’t give up his heart.

He kept denying it. He had trampled on his feelings.

After being disappointed in her, not only his heart, but also his mind had closed itself from her.

And when the ‘incident’ that ignited his disappointment happened…

He started to completely hate her.

“…….”

It’s hard to be sensible in his condition. People weren’t perfect. And it was the same with him. So maybe… The ‘evidence’ he saw then was…

‘…Nonsense.’

Theodore jumped up from his seat and paced the room. His fists clenched tightly, his gaze staring into the air showed anxiety.

Really, what if the evidence was false?

Then, he…

Did he believe in only something of little importance and hurt her for over a year?

It was difficult to accept.

No, he couldn’t accept it.

The Everetts had always been a group of demons and perpetrators. And wasn’t Lily a part of that family?

He always believed that.

Doubts sprouted, that might not be the case.

‘I’ve hated those bastards from Everett for a long time. If I can defeat those demons with my own hands, I will have no more regrets in my life. Especially Owen, that vicious piece of human scum. I can never forgive him.’

‘You have misunderstood that I’d do anything for Everett. That I’m a faithful servant to those bastards.’

‘Why didn’t you ever listen to me? I’ve been wanting to tell you many times. You always turned away from me and hated me. Even if you hate me, you should have known at least how much I revile those bastards!’

…That’s how he was.

He never really tried to listen to her story.

Really, not even once.

‘Duke, I have something to tell you…’

‘I’m busy.’

‘It will only take a moment.’

‘What is it? Don’t drag it out and speak briefly.’

‘I am different from my father and brothers. I… I didn’t want this marriage. I mean, I didn’t marry to harm the Valentino family, it was because my father forced me. But rather than just that, I wanted to help the Valentino family and you…’

At that time, she was desperate.

But what she was desperate for, he didn’t quite know. He didn’t even try to know.

Maybe he misunderstood her. But to fix everything right… Perhaps it was too late.

Not just once, he kept turning away from her.

‘Duke, if you could spare some time…’

‘Can we talk… for ten minutes…’

‘Please, listen to me for a moment.’

He crushed every attempt and coldly ignored her.

There was one reason for that. …Because he thought she was trying to appease him for Everett’s sake.

But, she says she hates Everett.

The hatred, resentment, and vengeance he saw in her eyes were absolutely not false. It couldn’t be a lie—eyes like that… Because he knew it all too well.

After losing his brother and hearing from the investigator that there was something worrisome about his brother’s death, when he looked in the mirror, the eyes that he saw reflected in the mirror.

It resembled those eyes.

* * *

“Madam, are you hungry? You should go and have dinner.”

“Yes, right. Aren’t you hungry too? Shall we have dinner together in my room tonight?”

“Yes! I would love to!”

Charlotte smiled broadly. I also smiled at her.

It was not appropriate for the lady of the house and her maid to eat together at the same table, but Charlotte and I often did so behind the scenes. Because I enjoy being with Charlotte more than eating alone.

When I first invited her to eat with me, Charlotte vehemently declined, saying, “How could I do that?” But, perhaps because she liked to eat so much, in the end she agreed. Charlotte couldn’t resist the delicious food that was thrown right in front of her eyes.

And now she was sitting naturally with me.

“I am so hungry… I also ate snacks. Why do I eat so much?”

“It’s good to eat well.”

“Still, it’s a little bit…”

Charlotte, who stared right in front, stopped abruptly. As I was looking at the maple trees in the garden, I tilted my head in wonder, then moved my eyes to where Charlotte’s gaze was heading.

“…….”

In that place… None other than Theodore stood there.